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Each year, the National FFA Organization is proud to honor the FFA members who show the utmost dedication to the organization through their desire to develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

That honor, the American FFA Degree, is bestowed upon a select group of individuals for years of academic and professional excellence.

Janna Smith, an FFA member representing the Haxtun FFA Chapter, was selected to join that exclusive list and was awarded the American FFA Degree at the 85th National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, Ind.

The convention is known as the largest student gathering in the United States and took place Oct. 24-27.

The American FFA Degree is sponsored by Case IH, Farm Credit, Elanco, DuPont Pioneer and Syngenta as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. It recognizes demonstrated ability and outstanding achievements in agricultural business, production, processing or service programs.

To be eligible, FFA members must have earned and productively invested $7,500 through a supervised agricultural experience program in which they start, own or hold a professional position in an existing agriculture enterprise.

Recipients must also complete 50 community service hours, as well as demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement.

Each recipient of the American FFA Degree received a gold American FFA Degree key plus a certificate after being on stage during the convention.

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 540,379 student members in grades seven through 12 who belong to one of 7,489 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.